Go 80's Banana's with The Dandy Warhols

Welcome To The Monkey House is the 4th album by the Portland, Oregon based quartet The Dandy Warhols. Members Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Peter Holmstrom, Zia McCabe and Brent DeBoer have in the past been called the most British band to not come from Britain and whilst this may or may not be true the group have certainly had more success on the European (and Australasian) side of the pond than in there homeland.

Their biggest breakthrough to date came when the song “Bohemian Like You” taken from their third album “Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia” was used in a European mobile telephone advert. Aficionados however new that the single was not their best (although not far off) and possibly did not come from their best album (“Come Down” being the connoisseurs choice). Neither on "13 Tales” did “Bohemian Like You” necessarily represent the type of song the Dandys produced.

The new album certainly takes on new ground and sound. Whereas on the previous albums you almost found yourself infuriated trying to quite hear the singing of Courtney (in a brilliant sort of way) this album is certainly cleaner in a mainstream production way. The guitar riffs seem to have been replaced by the same riffs but electrified. The melodic vocals however are still there.

Previously asked about the songs on the new album Zia replied “They're like the Beach Boys if they were remixed by Dr Dre”. Sprinkle in a generous portion of the 80’s including everything from David Bowie to Duran Duran and you will be just about there. The Duran connection is stronger than you think with the album sporting Nick Rhodes as one of its producers. The sound from Rhodes however reminds more of his previous incarnation as The Devils than his Duran connection.

Used to a more up-tempo guitar based rhythm (in the shape of tracks like “Bohemian Like You” and “Every Day Should Be A Holiday”) this ‘new’ sound at first may come as a shock to the Warhols faithful fans. However on further investigation its fair to say this type of song has never truly represented the largest percentage of songs on Dandy Warhols albums anyway.

Quick track listing information -

Welcome To The Monkeyhouse

Just over a minute and nothing more than an introduction with sharp lyrics and a build up to WUTBF

We Used To Be Friends

First single off the album and the most Dandy (at least to “Bohemian” fans) of the songs on the album. Not the best song on the album in real terms, this is more than likely however to be the one most played on TV and radio and therefore largest selling. Handclaps galore.

Plan A

Lyrically perhaps the most catchy on the album and up there with the “Last High” as the best track on the album. Catchy intro with what sounds like the type of piano you would have had in 17th century England and then some high pitched vocals thrown into the frame.
Very singalongable! - “All of us, all of us sing about it. All of us, sing about it”

The Dope (Wonderful You)

The next 3 songs for me are perhaps what you could call “the fillers” on the album which is waiting to kick off again with track 7. Not the best song on the album by a long shot and who knows in the long run could be remixed to make some sort of dance track.

I Am A Scientist

On first listen you might not rate this song much more than the B side of an 80’s Heaven 17 single but given time becomes quite catchy. Apparently co-written by David Bowie.

I Am Over It

Again waiting for the real action to start again. Repeat “I Am Over It” more times than you care to imagine. Reasonably catchy harmless song.

The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Everyone

Starting here I would say we have the best run straight run of tracks. Best fun, trippy song on the album with The Dandies not taking themselves very seriously. For buyers of previous Dandy albums think “Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth”.

Insincere Because I

Start of this song is sampled for the beginning of the “We Used To Be Friends” video. Only the Dandy Warhols could make this song worth listening too – slow, spooky, melodic.

You Were The Last High

Best song on the album and likely to be the second single. Think of “Sweet Harmony” by The Beloved with a bit of David Bowie chucked in. Cool synths half way through top off the song. Co-written by Evan Dando of Lemonheads fame.

Heavenly

Brilliant intro with soft harmonic lyrics only to be nicely interrupted by as good a bit of up-tempo sound.

I Am Sound

Keyboards sound like something British fun band Madness would have used and are the surprising standout on this track. One of the best songs on the album. Fans of the Brian Jonestown Masscare might be a little spooked about this songs likeness to “Free”. David Bowie (again).

Hit Rock Bottom

For this track the Dandy’s seem to go back to the glam rock era, T-Rex et all. As rock songs go maybe not the best in the world but listenable all the same. Along with “You come in Burned” not the best ending to the album.

You Come In Burned

Early guitars make way for dark spooky synths and vocals. Not bad and as with all the songs a grower but a bit long at over 7 minutes and never really getting there.

In summary very much a grower. After a while the evolution that has taken us from “Rule OK?”, to “Come Down” to "13 Tales” starts to make sense. If this sound is a quick step too far for current Dandy’s fans only time will tell. No doubt either way new fans will join the fold however to fill the void. The Dandys are just going forward in time even if means there sound goes back a couple of decades and then back again.

And finally you shouldn’t be able to miss the CD which comes out May 19th in most of the world and August in the U.S. - the Andy Warhol banana has been Dandied to include a zipped up version for the cover of the album.

UPDATE: Dont take my word for it - Capital have made the whole album available on the internet for a listen -
http://capitolrecords.com/dandywarhols/albumplayer